Detardation rarely involves a 'road to Damascus' moment. More often it's a gradual process unfolding over multiple years with multiple causes, as in Lou's (and my) case.

What happens is that the cognitive dissonance builds up until it crosses the threshold of intolerability. At this point the victim must shed some of his or her more tardacious beliefs in order to get comfortably back below the threshold. Things stabilize for a while until the CD creeps back up above the threshold again and more tardaciousness must be jettisoned.

No single factor, including online dialogue, is decisive, but they all contribute to the process.

My point is that although we cross swords with the tards primarily for fun, it's worthwhile to argue carefully and with an eye toward the audience. We are adding straws to the camel's back.

Edited by keiths on Sep. 26 2012,09:51

--------------And the set of natural numbers is also the set that starts at 0 and goes to the largest number. -- Joe G